Ehle
A surname potentially derived from a variant of the Germanic word "Aal" meaning "river" or "stream."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,302 Americans carry the last name Ehle. That puts it at #23,065 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.38 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 263,252 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Ehle surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.3K
1 in 263,252
Census rank
#23,065
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.1K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,108 bearers of the surname Ehle in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 23065th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Ehle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Ehle
The surname Ehle has its origins in Germany, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "eha," meaning law or statute. The name was likely adopted by individuals who were involved in legal or administrative roles within their communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Ehle name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of medieval documents from the region of Saxony. This document, dated around the 12th century, mentions an individual named "Ehelinus" who was a landowner in the area.
As the name spread throughout Germany, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Ehlen, Ehlert, and Ehlinger. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes who recorded the names.
In the 14th century, the Ehle name appeared in the Zwettler Codex, an important manuscript from the Zwettl Monastery in Lower Austria. This document recorded the names of individuals who held positions within the monastery or were associated with it in some way.
One notable individual bearing the Ehle surname was Johann Ehle, a German jurist and legal scholar who lived in the 16th century (c. 1515-1588). He was a respected figure in his field and authored several influential works on Roman law and legal theory.
Another individual of note was Jakob Ehle (1677-1745), a German painter and engraver who was known for his religious works and portraits. His paintings can still be found in various churches and galleries throughout Germany.
In the 18th century, the Ehle name gained prominence in the region of Württemberg, where a family of winemakers and vintners rose to prominence. One member of this family, Johann Georg Ehle (1728-1802), was renowned for his expertise in viticulture and contributed significantly to the development of winemaking techniques in the area.
As the centuries passed, the Ehle name continued to be associated with various professions and occupations, including lawyers, academics, artists, and businessmen. Some other notable individuals with this surname include the German physicist Gustav Ehle (1837-1895), who made important contributions to the field of thermodynamics, and the American actor and director Jennifer Ehle (born 1969), best known for her roles in films such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "Zero Dark Thirty."
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Ehle
Among Census respondents with the surname Ehle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Ehle bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Ehle surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3%
- Hispanic or Latino2.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
- Two or more races0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Ehle surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #23,065 | #23,065 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,108 | 1,108 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.38 | 0.38 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Ehle bearers went from 1,108 to 1,108 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #23,065 to #23,065.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Ehle
FAQ
Ehle surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Ehle?
The surname Ehle holds position #23,065 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,302 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.38 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Ehle surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Ehle, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (2.2%) and Asian/Pacific Islander (1.0%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.